M&S sales fall flat as it fails to carve a fashion identity July 10, 2012 THE RETAILER famous for £10 meals and the Per Una brand has stumbled. In this age of austerity, it may come as little surprise that a firm like M&S is falling short. But in reporting its weakest quarterly figures for seven years, its challenges run far deeper. Although M&S’s food sales grew by 2.9 per [...]
FTSE steadies after Alcoa results July 10, 2012 The FTSE 100 was flat today with aluminium giant Alcoa reporting positive results to start the US earnings season which helped steady investors’ nerves. Alcoa saw its quarterly revenue and profit beat Wall Street’s expectations even though prices for its aluminium are at nearly two-year lows. Meanwhile Eurozone finance ministers have agreed to lend Spain [...]
Asos first quarter sales rise by 31 per cent July 10, 2012 Online fashion retailer ASOS posted a 31 per cent rise in first-quarter retail sales, buoyed by a strong performance in the United States and Australia and an improving UK. The retailer, which targets young women wanting to emulate the designer outfits of celebrities, said on Tuesday retail sales rose to 137 million pounds in the [...]
LONDON REPORT July 8, 2012 ALL eyes will be focused on the Treasury Select Committee hearing today, as deputy Bank of England governor Paul Tucker presents his side of the story in the Barclays/ Libor scandal. His appearance will be followed tomorrow by one from Marcus Agius, the former Barclays chairman. Today sees trading updates from housebuilder Bovis – expected [...]
Accessorise your summer look with some choice pieces June 6, 2012 WOMEN Eeugenia Kim Abby belt-trimmed straw sunhat, £230, netaporter.com Gleaming gold, this straw hat is just the right amount distressed, making for a beach-ready but oh-so-chic summer look. Top Shop Geo Triangle Collar, £15, topshop.com Elegant and easy, this collar necklace looks too classy to be cheap and cheerful, despite the price tag. The triangles [...]
BEST of the BROKERS June 5, 2012 JOHNSON MATTHEY Deutsche Bank rates the chemicals group “buy” with a target price of £24.50. The broker expects good second-half results when the firm reports tomorrow, with a 14 per cent rise in pre-tax profit driven by higher demand for automotive products and precious metals. NEXT Nomura rates the high street retailer “buy” and has [...]
Asos boss receives £25m shares bonus as retailer profits double May 24, 2012 NICK Robertson, the co-founder and chief executive of Asos, has been awarded almost £25m worth of shares after the online fashion retailer reported a near doubling of profits and strong overseas growth. Seven executives at the company have pocketed £66m in shares after reaching all of the targets set out in a three-year incentive plan. [...]
FTSE edges up but Eurozone gloom continues May 24, 2012 The FTSE 100 staged a tentative recovery in early trading although an inconclusive meeting of Eurozone leaders offered little prospect of a plan to save Greece. Overnight the EU said it wanted Greece to stay in the fold but contingency plans are already underway for an exit from the euro for the debt laden country. [...]
Asos profit surge fuelled by overseas sales May 24, 2012 Online fashion retailer ASOS met forecasts with a 43-per cent rise in year profit as stellar growth overseas offset a weaker home market. The firm, which targets 16 to 34-year-old women looking to emulate the designer looks of celebrities such as Alexa Chung, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kate Moss, said on Thursday it made a pretax [...]
THE TIPSTER | ASOS hoping for a change of look May 21, 2012 ASOS took something of a beating when it released its trading statement last month, dropping 17 per cent. The hitherto-relentless growth in sales was revealed to have slowed somewhat, even though international sales continued to show excellent growth. ASOS has become a slave to its own excellent performance, and it will need a strong showing [...]